Page 98 of Playmaker

“It’s okay.” Mom put a hand on my arm and squeezed just hard enough for me to feel it through my pads. “It was long overdue for everyone to see who he really was.”

“But did it have to benow?” I gestured at my teammates, who were celebrating with their families as they continued passing the Cup around. “Today should be about us. Not him.”

“It won’t be about him.”

I shot her a dubious look.

She gave me one of those“Mom knows best, just wait and see”looks. “All the sports networks have been ignoring the bad things about him for years, and they know it. Now that he’s made an ass out of himself in a way they can’t ignore, they’re not going to want to touch it with a ten-foot pole because they all helped make him into the monster he is.”

I scowled. “They’ll just act all shocked and scandalized like they had no idea he was this way.”

“They can try.” Mom smiled knowingly. “And even if they do try to crap on him, everyone knows your father will sic his lawyers on them. Some of the tabloid sites might try to make a big stink out of it, but the sports networks that want to stay relevant and solvent aren’t going to take that risk.”

I considered it, then sighed. “I hope you’re right.” I wanted to believe her. I really did. I just wasn’t sure if I could.

Mom patted my arm again. “Either way, don’t let him steal your night.” She pointed with her chin at my teammates. “Go celebrate. You’ve earned it.”

I chewed my lip. Yeah, I’d earned it. But had I also blown it?

Right then, Val skated up beside me. “Hey, Mac. You okay?”

“Yeah. Yeah, I’m…” I turned around and realized about half a dozen of my teammates had joined her, and they were all looking at me with concern written all over their faces.

When they should’ve been celebrating the biggest moment of their careers.

Goddammit.

“I’m sorry about…” I gestured to where my dad and I had had it out.

Val shook her head. “No, don’t be.”

“Definitely,” Sims agreed. “He was all ready to make tonight about himself.” She nodded in the same direction I’d pointed. “But now he’s gone.”

I looked, and… she was right. He was still MIA. Scanning the ice, I couldn’t find him anywhere, and he was not an easy man to lose in a crowd. He’d quite possibly left the building by now.

I exhaled, letting my shoulders drop.

“Come on.” Anya wrapped her arm around me. “Let’s go celebrate.”

I hesitated, worried I didn’t deserve to take part in something I’d almost ruined.

Lila appeared beside my mom, and she gave me a gentle nudge. “Go. You’ve earned this. He doesn’t deserve to take it away from anyone, including you.”

I held her gaze, then smiled and tipped my head in the direction our teammates had gone. “You coming?”

“Of course.” She beamed. “They’re going to do the group photo by one of the carpets so I can join in.”

That had joy bubbling up in me. She was part of this. We’d all done this together, including me and Lila. Both of us would be in that group photo with the Cup. Both of our names would be engraved on it. Though there would be articles and commentary, I was sure, the pall of my dad’s presence was gone. There was nothing left but joy and celebration.

So I joined my team. I posed, smiling beside the Cup. I drank from it just like everyone else did, and my God, champagne had never tasted so good.

As far as I knew, my father had left. I didn’t see him for the rest of the night, and no one—not even the nosiest and most obnoxious reporters—mentioned his name to me.

Tonight was about the Pittsburgh Bearcats.

We’d all made it. Into our own professional league. To the top of our game. To the playoffs.

And tonight, we’d won the Cup.

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